How often you should wash your towels is a common question many people have. The number of times you can reuse a towel before it needs to be washed depends on several factors.
How Dirty Towels Get
When you use a towel after bathing, the towel absorbs dead skin cells, body oil, dirt, bacteria, and other microbes from your body. The longer you wait between washes, the more these substances build up on your towels.
Bacteria and fungi live naturally on our skin and thrive in damp environments like towels. When towels are used repeatedly without washing, microbes can multiply quickly. Damp towels provide an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew.
Using dirty towels can expose you to these microbes and increase the risk of skin infections or irritation. Sharing towels with multiple people also increases the chance of spreading illnesses.
How Often Experts Recommend Washing Towels
Most experts recommend washing towels every 3-5 uses. Here are some general guidelines:
- Bath towels – wash every 3-5 uses
- Hand towels – wash every 2-3 uses
- Gym towels – wash after each use
- Kitchen towels – wash every 2-3 uses or more frequently when handling raw meat
Washing towels this often helps limit bacterial growth and prevent the spread of germs. However, how often you need to wash depends on other factors as well.
Other Factors that Determine How Often to Wash Towels
Here are some other considerations that can impact how frequently towels should be washed:
- Number of users – Towels used by multiple people need more frequent washing than personal towels.
- Climate and time of year – Towels may need more frequent washing in hot, humid weather when bacteria multiply faster.
- Use – Kitchen towels used for drying hands or dishes get dirtier faster than bath towels used on clean bodies.
- Material – Natural fibers like cotton allow more airflow while synthetic fibers like microfiber dry faster, which can affect bacterial growth.
- Color – Lighter colored towels may look dirty faster than darker towels.
- Washing machine cycles – Shorter, cooler wash cycles are less effective at killing germs and removing dirt.
Signs It’s Time to Wash Your Towels
Here are some signs it may be time to throw your towels in the wash:
- Visible dirt, stains, or discoloration
- Musty or mildewy smell
- Damp or stiff feel
- Visible mold or mildew
- More than 3-5 uses since last wash
Washing your towels promptly when they show these signs can help prevent germs and bacteria from building up.
Best Practices for Washing Towels
Follow these tips for keeping your towels fresh and hygienic:
- Wash towels separately from clothes in hot water, at least 60°C/140°F.
- Use bleach or other disinfectants to kill germs.
- Dry towels completely on the highest heat setting.
- Replace worn out towels with holes where bacteria can grow.
- Wash new towels before first use to remove manufacturing residues.
- Use white vinegar in the rinse cycle to remove detergent residue.
- Hang towels to air dry between uses to prevent mildew.
How to Tell When It’s Time to Replace Towels
No matter how often you wash them, towels wear out over time. Here are signs that mean it’s time to replace old towels:
- Holes, tears, frayed edges
- Thin, worn fabric
- Permanent stains or discoloration
- Smells musty despite washing
- Feels stiff or scratchy
- Won’t absorb water well
- Shedding lint or fibers
Regularly replacing worn out towels every 1-2 years can help ensure you always have fresh, absorbent towels that are safe to use.
How Often Should You Wash Other Household Fabrics?
| Item | How Often to Wash |
|---|---|
| Sheets | Every 1-2 weeks |
| Pillowcases | Every 1-2 weeks |
| Blankets | Every 2-3 months |
| Comforter | 2-3 times a year |
| Dish towels | Every few uses |
| Shower curtain liner | Every 1-3 months |
The frequency depends on use, materials, and whether they are used by one person vs. multiple people. Follow care instructions and wash items whenever they show signs of dirt.
Storing Towels Properly Between Uses
Proper towel storage can help them stay fresher between washes:
- Hang towels to dry completely after use. Damp towels breed bacteria.
- Store folded towels in a cool, dry place like a linen closet.
- Don’t leave damp towels wadded up in the laundry hamper.
- Store towels separately from dirty clothes.
- Use separate towels for body, hands, and face.
- Avoid sharing towels with multiple household members.
Using Paper Towels for Added Hygiene
Paper towels can supplement fabric towels when extra hygiene is desired, such as:
- Drying hands in public restrooms
- Wiping kitchen surfaces used for raw meat prep
- Cleaning up spills of chemicals or bodily fluids
- Reducing sharing of towels between multiple household members during illness
However, paper towel overuse can be wasteful. Use just when needed for hygiene purposes.
Disinfecting Towels with Bleach or Vinegar
For periodic disinfecting and deodorizing, soak towels in:
- Bleach solution – 1/2 cup bleach per gallon of water. Soak 5-10 minutes.
- White vinegar solution – 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Soak 15-20 minutes.
Rinse towels thoroughly after soaking before reuse. Don’t mix bleach and vinegar solutions.
Using a Clothesline to Dry Towels
Clotheslines have benefits over machine drying:
- Sunlight naturally disinfects and whitens.
- Air drying avoids heat damage from dryers.
- No energy costs for drying.
- Gentler on fabrics than machine heat.
Just be sure towels dry fully before bringing indoors to prevent mildew.
Considerations for Public or Shared Towels
Extra precautions should be taken with publicly shared towels:
- Avoid sharing towels or limit sharing whenever possible.
- Use paper towels for drying hands in public restrooms.
- Choose public towels made of quick-drying microfiber instead of cotton.
- Only provide small hand towels, not full-sized bath towels.
- Provide a hamper so soiled towels aren’t left piled on sinks.
- Post signs reminding guests not to reuse towels.
- Wash public towels separately with bleach.
Conclusion
How often you can reuse a towel without washing depends on several factors, but a good rule of thumb is every 3-5 uses for personal towels, and more frequently for multi-user, kitchen, and gym towels. Wash towels whenever you notice visible dirt, smells, or dampness. Follow best practices for washing, drying, and storing towels to optimize hygiene. Replace worn out towels regularly. Use paper towels or additional precautions when sharing towels publicly. Washing your towels frequently is key for reducing bacteria and preventing the spread of illness.